News

Asbestos victims receive £1.7 million

A total of £1.7 million has been secured for asbestos victims and their families in the North East and North Cumbria.

The Northern TUC Asbestos Support and Campaign Group has helped its clients claim the money during the past 12 months, which includes benefit gains and compensation. The final figure, split among 162 people, represents a rise of more than £614,000 from the previous year.

The group, a partnership between Northern TUC, Macmillan Cancer Support and sustainable growth organisation Tadea UK, provides support, advice and information (including help with benefit entitlements) to people living with the effects of asbestos poisoning, their families and carers. People helped by the group have asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer and other workplace cancers.

Maggie Bailey, Macmillan Welfare Rights Officer, has worked on the successful claims from her base at the Gateshead offices of Tadea UK.

She said: “It’s brilliant that Macmillan, in partnership with the TUC and Tadea, are funding this work as we are able to help so many people at a difficult time to claim their benefit entitlement and compensation for illness caused in the workplace.”

Up to 2,500 new cases of asbestos-related diseases develop in the UK every year.

Sarah Lee, Health Projects Manager at Tadea-UK, said: “This is a fantastic project and I’m absolutely delighted at the level of support we’ve been able to provide, in partnership with Macmillan and TUC, for people suffering from industrial cancers right across the north east.

“By generating well over £1m for cancer sufferers and their families, we’ve helped to make a huge, positive difference in their lives. It a great result which has exceeded our expectations and a showed a great improvement on an already successful first year of the project. We are over the moon and look forward to helping more people in 2014/15.”

Beth Farhat, Northern TUC Regional Secretary said: “Results like these are amazing and highlight the need for people like Maggie and groups like the ASCG. Unfortunately, the legacy of asbestos is going to be with us for some time to come so it is imperative that there is good quality, easily accessible support and guidance for those who need it.

“We are also looking to develop this area of work further and widen the scope of the group to help even more people – taking the service directly into workplaces, briefing and training union Reps and launching a dedicated Northern TUC Asbestos Support and Campaign Group website in the very near future.”

To help more people living with cancer, Macmillan relies on public donations. To find out ways you can give, call Liz Airey, Macmillan fundraising manager, on 07801 307012 or email lairey@macmillan.org.uk

About Macmillan Cancer SupportMore than one in three of us will get cancer. For most of us it will be the toughest fight we ever face. And the feelings of isolation and loneliness that so many people experience make it even harder.

But you don’t have to go through it alone. The Macmillan team is with you every step of the way.

We are the nurses and therapists helping you through treatment. The experts on the end of the phone. The advisers telling you which benefits you’re entitled to. The volunteers giving you a hand with the everyday things. The campaigners improving cancer care. The community there for you online, any time. The supporters who make it all possible.

Together, we are all Macmillan Cancer Support

For cancer support every step of the way call Macmillan on 0808 808 00 00 (Monday to Friday, 9am-8pm) or visit macmillan.org.uk